Like the title says it’s a lazy Sunday. I’m home alone enjoying some well needed rest and relaxation.
Mum’s monthly review didn’t go very well Thursday. The cancer is active and there’s also quite a large tuma crushing down on a valve restricting oxygen from getting into her left lung. Mum’s back in hospital, they admitted her immediately so that they could start radiotherapy and then chemotherapy treatment. We have to wait and see what happens from here but we’re also preparing for the worst case scenario just in case.
I’ve just sat down and organised my coming week’s schedule. It’s booked full with appointments at the hospital on top of a lot of other things that need to be taken care of sooner rather than later so it’s full steam ahead for me. There are a lot of things changing coming up but I will post more about them once they are set in concrete.
Before I forget again here’s a picture of my fridge. I didn’t realise how small ours was until we got out new one, the new one is 519 Litres. We’ll have so much more room which will be an absolute blessing come time to compete. The microwave is still on back order so we should have that in a couple of weeks. It’s a lot better than the one we currently have. Food preparation is of the utmost importance to us so it’s always in the back of our minds when purchasing items for our kitchen. Also our scanpan dutch oven and steamer arrived via courier this week so our collection is almost complete. One more purchase of a roaster pan left.
I’m happily sitting in my office checking out the results from the weekends bodybuilding competitions as well as watching live online 2008 IFBB Olympia Webcast. I can’t wait to see who wins figure. Jenny Lynn or Gina Aliotti could take the title this year, we’ll have to wait and see. Stay tuned for updates.
Also on the agenda for today is to finish watching the rest of my camera dvd. I want as much help as possible in preparation for next weekend at the 2008 INBA Vic Titles. I’m going to be photographing a couple of very good friends of mine, Tim Martin (Open) & Ant Clarke (Masters). Hubby and I are both looking forward to going along and supporting our friends and catching up with a lot of bodybuilding friends. I’ll be posting photos that evening so be sure to check back for them that evening Saturday 4th October 2008.
I think I’ve rambled on enough for today so I’m going to wrap this up so I can watch the olympia webcast. Enjoy what’s left of your Sunday.
Birth control is a hot topic in the Figure Athlete world. So, what’s the deal? Does it impact progress or not?
Well, as usual, the answer isn’t straightforward. Indeed, my response is typically the dreaded, “It depends.”
Prescription Problems
It’s true that nowadays many women between ages 18 and 30 use oral, indictable, or topical forms of birth control. Interestingly, these hormonal prescriptions aren’t always used exclusively to prevent unwanted pregnancy. In fact, more frequently you see teenage girls being placed on birth control hormones to help regulate menstruation. Heck, some are placed on the pill to help control acne!
Read more….
Unfortunately it’s been another one of those challenging weeks for me, here’s a run down of where things are currently at. Monday I hired a wheelchair from the hospital. Mum’s mobility has decreased so rapidly that we had to look at other options. At least now she can remain mobile without exert herself. Then today was the hospital bed, we’ve had one delivered and installed at home for Mum. Things have changed here at home quicker than any of us expected.
Next we have to get an air mattress for the hospital bed for comfort and a trolley tray so she can eat in bed for times that she’s to weak to get out of bed. Then tomorrow we’re heading back for her second monthly review. In all honestly we’re not expecting good news, so much so we’re taking an overnight bag for just in case. We actually have a hospital bag made up at all times for those short notice times that keep on happening. It pays to be organised in a time of emergency.
The palliative care nurses are great, they’re here on a daily basis now unfortunately. I had a chat to them this afternoon and asked their perspective on things, after all they see terminally ill patients on a daily basis day in day out. At this stage apparently we’ll be lucky if she makes it to xmas. This came as no real surprise but at the same time it was like a huge reality check. I mean, this can’t be happening so quickly can it? Today I’ve just spent the day in shock at this sad news and tears at all over times. I’m exhausted, I’m devastated. To lose both parents within six months of each other is incomprehensible for me.
Monday morning I headed into medical at work and had my two stitches out from my shoulder surgery. This meant one thing to me, I could go to the gym. So off I went and trained. Daniel’s created a great training program for me so that I can start back at training without hindering my recovery from surgery. He’s created a program that focuses on legs and abs three days a week. Slow and steady it is in the beginning, so using body weight and the baby weights is enough to get the blood back into the muscle and start working on flexibility again. Here’s what I did:
1st Super Set – 1 Min Rest
BW Squats: 3 Sets x 12-15 Reps @ BW
Lying Hamstring Curl: 3 Sets x 6-8 Reps @ 1.25kg
Leg Extension: 3 Sets x 8 Reps @ 5kg
2nd Super Set – 1 Min Rest
BW Calf Press: 3 Sets x 20 Reps @ BW
Seated Calf Press: 3 Sets x 10 Reps @ Plate 1
3rd Super Set – 1 Min Rest
Fitball Crunches: 3 Sets x 40 Reps @ BW
Lying Leg Hold: 3 Sets x 30 Sec @ BW
Let me assure you, this did the trick. You don’t have to lift heavy for it to be an effective training session. Instead I concentrated on good form and keeping my muscles under constant tension at all times. Like anyone after an extended period off from weight training it’s best to start from scratch and build your strength and flexibility back again. It was quite the effective session and I’m still paying for it. So much so I’ve injured my left calf. That’s what happens when you forget to stretch during and after training. I won’t be doing that again in a hurry that’s for sure. There’s been spa baths, ice packs, heat packs and anti-inflammatories to help my recovery. Not to worry though, I’ll go back again on Friday. Two sessions this week is better than none.
Well that will have to do for today I think. Daniel wants the computer so I’m logging off for the night and going to plonk myself on the couch to watch the idiot box. Good night. 
)
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably familiar with the term sugar substitute. Whether it’s because you’re looking for low-cal options to liven up your oatmeal, or want to stay away from sugar because you dislike what it does to your body, you know you have options.
Yet beyond that, you may be confused as hell as to what’s good, bad, indifferent, low-calorie, no calorie, FDA approved, not approved, natural…and so forth. The issue of sugar substitutes is almost as touchy as the upcoming Presidential election!
Opinions and studies abound, so let’s take a close look at the facts.
A sugar substitute is defined as a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar or corn syrup in taste, yet typically contains fewer calories per serving. There are two types — natural and synthetic (a.k.a. artificial sweeteners).
Read more….
I go through phases where one particular piece of music will really speak to me and I’ll listen to it over and over again whilst training. My latest piece is from the soundtrack of Flash Gordon. I don’t know why but it really fires me up.
What’s your favourite song that fires you up? Leave me a comment, I’d love to know. )
Before I forget again here’s a picture of my fridge. I didn’t realise how small ours was until we got out new one, the new one is 519 Litres. We’ll have so much more room which will be an absolute blessing come time to compete. The microwave is still on back order so we should have that in a couple of weeks. It’s a lot better than the one we currently have. Food preparation is of the utmost importance to us so it’s always in the back of our minds when purchasing items for our kitchen. Also our scanpan dutch oven and steamer arrived via courier this week so our collection is almost complete. One more purchase of a roaster pan left.
